U/W Regional Minister calls on media and Civil Society to publicly condemn corruption 


The Upper West Regional Minister, Alhaji Amin Amidu Sulemani has called on the media as well as Faith Based and Civil Society Organizations to publicly condemn corruption as a way of helping to curb the menace. 

He also suggested that there should be a reward for those who are able to expose corruption. Alhaji Sulemani made the point at the Upper West Regional Dialogue on National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) in Wa. 

Radio Ghana’s Correspondent Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo reports that the consensus at the dialogue was that we should not only name and shame those who are found to be corrupt in our society but should as well make them face the full impact of the law. 

The heart-beat of program, the first of its kind in Upper West was to introduce the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) to all partners involved in Local Governance in the Region including the media and to serve as a platform to discuss President Mahama’s directives on the implementation of NACAB to help achieve a corruption-free society.  

The Regional Minister, Alhaji Sulemani said in our resolve to deal with corruption, we need to emphasize on prevention, education and enforcement of our laws. 

He indicated that at the core of the approach is to ensure that systems are put in place to seal all the loopholes used in corrupt practices whilst at the same time creating awareness on the negative effects of corruption in order to make people adverse to the menace. 

Alhaji Sulemani pointed out that over the years, a number of public sector reforms and strategies have been put in place to combat corruption. 

The Regional Minister stressed that the institution of official investigations in respect of alleged corrupt practices in the public sector and the establishment of “The Sole Commissioner on Judgment Debts” are some of government’s practical commitment to fighting corruption. 

The Governance Advisor at the Office of the President, Daniel Batidam observed that in Ghana, when we talk about corruption people think only of public office holders without realizing that the phenomenon is “decentralized” with many others taking part, be it petty or grand corruption. 

He stated that the government and people tend to live in a state of denial as far as corruption is concerned; saying if nothing was done to tackle it, it would spell the doom of the nation. 

Mr. Batidam said the “outmoded approach” of focusing on political opponents and past governments is not a panacea for dealing with corruption. 

The Acting Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Richard Quayson who delivered a paper titled “NACAP: Ghana United Against Corruption” asked heads of public institutions in the country do what is expected of them  for NACAP to realize is strategic objectives.


GBC